Who Is Generation X?

Greetings! My name is Jennifer. I started my first blog in 1999, and began writing about my generation in 2008. I’m glad you’ve come here to learn about Generation X. I can help you. Please feel free to email me if you have a question or would like to contribute a thought or two. I love to hear from readers. Use this contact form or email me at jenx67 dot com.

What Is Generation X?

In this article you’ll learn the definition of Generation X and discover its years, size and characteristics including major, defining events like divorce, latchkey kids, the Berlin Wall and the Cold War. You’ll also learn about cultural touchstones like big hair and John Hughes films. There are nearly 3,000 posts on this blog. If you are looking for information about Generation X you have come to the right place.

Generation X Definition

Generation X by broadest definition includes those individuals born between 1961 and 1981. The collective persona of Gen Xersis frequently debated and discussed among academicians and marketing experts worldwide. It traditionally applies to North Americans (U.S and Canada); Australia, and various European countries. There are well over 50 million members of Generation X. We are sometimes referred to as Baby Busters because our birth years follow the baby boom that began after World War II. That boom began to decline in 1957. Sometimes, you’ll hear about Generation Jones, a small subculture or subset of Generation X born between 1954 and 1965.

What Years Are Generation X?

The years for Generation X vary from one historian, government agency and marketing firm to the next. Neil Howe and the late William Strauss, defined the generation in the broadest terms I have come across: 1961 to 1981. The United States Social Security Administration defines Generation X as “those born roughly between 1964 and 1979, while another federal agency, the U.S. Department of Defense, sets the parameters at 1965 to 1977. But, I don’t see how a generation can only be 15 or 12 years in length. Childhood and youth comprise 18 years of our lives.

Generations stem from shared experiences. Depending on your birth order and the area of the country you grew up in as well as other influences, you may identify with one generation more than another. That is perfectly fine. All of this is subjective. It’s worth noting the simple definition of a generation found at Dictionary.com.

The entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time…

The term of years, roughly 30 among human beings, accepted as the average period between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.

A group of individuals, most of whom are the same approximate age, having similar ideas, problems, attitudes, etc. (Compare Beat Generation, Lost Generation, etc.)

A group of individuals belonging to a specific category at the same time…

The point is, opinions vary on when generations begin and end. In my opinion, people should lay claim to the generation whose collective persona most reflects their own life experiences.

Generation X Ages

The age range from Generation X as of 2014 is 33 to 53 (my broadest definition). In 2011, the first Gen-Xer turned 50 years old and the youngest turned 30. We are currently the “sandwich generation” in America. We are caring for aging parents and raising more than 50 percent of the nation’s children under 18. (May 2014)

How Big Is Generation X?

According to Douglas Coupland, author of Generation X: Tales of an Accelerated Culture, Generation X was born during the single most anti-child phase in American history. In the early 1960s, the birth control pill became widely available, and in 1973, abortion was legalized. These are two factors that are said to have contributed to the generation’s low numbers. According to Jeff Gordinier, in his book, How Generation X Got the Shaft, But Can Still Keep Everything From Sucking, Baby Boomers number 76 million and Millennials, 80 million. Generation X is sandwiched between them with 46 million. This is expertly challenged, however, by the 2010 Census, which puts the total U.S. population around 311.8 million.

The following generations’ numbers are for everyone over 18. These individuals collectively represent 236.8 million Americas.

G.I. (born 1901-1924), 4.5 million

Silent (born 1925-1942), 26.2 million

Baby Boomer (born 1943-1960), 65.6 million

Generation X (born 1961-1981), 88.5 million

Generation Y (born 1982-2001) 18+, 52.0 million

Two-thirds of the remaining 75 million are Gen Y who are under 18

The remaining one-third (25 to 30 million) is Generation Z.

So, why do we hear that Generation X is so small when the numbers tell a different story? That’s a great question…

Characteristics of Generation X

When it comes to generations, characteristics and traits are often referred to as the collective persona. Not everyone buys into generational theory and some accuse historians and marketers, etc., of stereotyping people. I am not one of these people. I love the book, Generations, by Neil Howe and the late William Strauss. These historians came up with an a “bold and imaginative” theory that is based on recurring generational cycles in American history beginning in 1584. This theory is difficult to summarize, and I couldn’t do it justice even if I tried. A brief overview of the framework, however, may inspire you to check their book out of your local library.

Basically, the historians maintain that generations fall into one of four archetypes and occur in one of four cycles that go on repeating themselves. The archetypes are prophet, nomad, hero, artist and the cycles are high, awakening, unraveling and crisis. Everything they’ve written about Generation X has been spot-on for me. Others may see it differently. With that, here are some of the stereotypical traits of Generation X.

Adrift, Apathetic

In youth and childhood, Generation X was often described as being adrift. The archetype of loner emerged. In reality, members, especially young men, were disenfranchised by a loss of familial support and later technology (think: video games). In adulthood, the introspective, disconnected Gen-Xer has re-engaged through social media to find that they are not so different than everyone else. Facebook is dominated by Generation X and here we have discovered we were all hiding the same things from each other all these years.

Cynical

Gen-Xers distrust authority and large institutions including corporations, religious institutions and the government. The following is a list of historical events that occurred during Generation X’s coming of age, which contributed to the Gen-Xer-As-Cynic stereotype.

The Energy Crisis of the 1970s Watergate

Iran Contra (1980s) Nuclear Disasters including

Three-Mile Island

Silkwood/Kerr McGee

Union Carbide and Chernobyl

Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster

Widespread Layoffs of the 1980s

Dot Com Boom and Bust of the 1990s

Corporate Greed

Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal

In more recent years, the Great Recession has underscored and validated that cynicism. It was Generation X, not Gen Y that founded Occupy Wall Street.

Entreprenuerial

A lot of Gen Xers struggled to find jobs after college. According to a report by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the year my husband graduated from college (1988), there was a sharp rise in joblessness among college-educated men age 24 and under. (It rose from 4.8 to 7.9.) READ: No Golden Age For College Graduates published in July 1988. This trend continued until 1991.

The situation wasn’t much better for Gen X women. Thus, many Gen Xers roamed aimlessly after college, unable to secure what they were told a degree entitled them to: A job or at least something more than a McJob. To compound matters, the student loans that Generation X used to finance college, were loaned at a much higher rate than what Baby Boomers enjoyed. For example, my sisters, who are eight and 10 years older than me, borrowed at a rate of 3 percent. My loans, however, were at 8 percent. The cost of a college education was higher for Generation X and the jobs were scarce. When you did find one, you couldn’t make enough money to make your loan payments. So we deferred them and deferred them, and some defaulted. It was all so very messy.

These are some of the themes explored in the iconic Generation X movie Reality Bites. Janeane Garafalo plays a college graduate working as a sales associate at The Gap. The movie made Winona Ryder the darling of Generation X. This and more helped nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of Generation X. Famous Gen X entrepreneurs include the founders of Google, Twitter and Amazon. Interestingly, it also helped nurture one of the prevailing and negative stereotypes of Generation X: the slacker who lives in his parents basement until he’s in his 30s. This image of Gen Xers caused many to distance themselves from identification with their generation. Today, younger Gen Xers take far more pride in the Gen X label than older Xers who endured the original stereotype. Generation X was at one time very much a pejorative.

Educated

Compared to the generations that came before it, Generation X is a highly-educated generation of Americans. More than 60 percent of Gen-Xers have attended college at one time or another. But, don’t get me started about how they tried to force the metric system on us or killed off our arts and music programs.

Ethnically Diverse

Generation X grew up without segregation. They grew up loving Bill Cosby and watching Different Strokes and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. These cultural influences contributed to a generation that is more accepting and more inclusive of others. Generation X has long embraced diversity. Hip Hop is also widely attributed to Generation X.

Individualistic

Our mothers worked. Our fathers left. Sometimes, it was the other way around. Either way, divorce was a major factor in the developing resourcefulness, independence and self-sufficiency of Generation X. Autonomy was a consequence of unstable childhoods. Interestingly, the lack of coddling in childhood has created a generation of parents who coddle their kids’ every whim. This over compensation is frequently defined as over-parenting. (More on Gen-Xers as parents below.)

Casual Disdain for Everything, Especially Authority

Generation X has often been criticized for a snarky and casual disdain for authority. In the workplace, they want freedom coupled with responsibility and they hate being micromanaged. This has created decades of conflict between Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. The American workforce is an interesting state of transition right now because every day thousands of Baby Boomers retire.

Technologically Astute

Gen-Xers have come of age during an interesting time in the world. They remember rotary dial phones and the explosion of mobile technology. They remember Liquid Paper and plunking out term papers on typewriters. They grew up in a world without social media, and yet have adapted to it – even invented it – exquisitely. My friend Shawn who works in IT explained this so well with the following quote. “I prefer this disposition in life over being from the past and moving to the future. Or being from the future and wondering about the strangeness of the past.”

Flexibility

Maybe it was our turbulent childhoods, but Generation X has proven highly adaptable to change. We saw our parents lose so many jobs, we remained committed to making changes whenever necessary in order to get ahead. This has contributed to Generation X being viewed as disloyal to employers or uncommitted to jobs. In reality, Gen-Xers are committed to their own survival.

Work-Life Balance

Gen-Xers value work-life balance. How else could we coach soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, baseball in the spring all while serving as Boyscout Troop leader? Gen-Xers value work-life balance because they know the job you sacrifice everything for might not be there tomorrow. So, why give it all and lose your family in the process?

Unprotected Childhood

Generation X was born during the greatest anti-child phase in modern American history. Our childhoods were underscored by the following: Legalized Abortion (Roe vs. Wade) Invention of Birth Control DivorceAbsent Fathers Working Mothers Latchkey Kids For more about latchkey kids, I invite you to read a 2009 blog post I wrote about Gina, a member of the Latchkey Generation.

Gen-Xers in NYC, 1973 | A brother and his little sister, Gen-Xers, New York, 1973

Generation X Historical Events

Generation X and The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended racial segregation in schools. Generation X in its entirety was raised in schools that were racially diverse. In 2010, a Florida newspaper ran an article about Generation X being the first “colorblind” generation.

Divorce, Working Moms and Latchkey Kids Shape Generation X

From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, divorce rates in the United States more than doubled. In addition, between 1969 and 1996, the number of working mothers in the workforce also doubled. Consequently, many households were headed by working single moms. It’s estimated that as many as 40 percent of Gen Xers were latchkey kids who returned home from school to empty houses. Their childhoods and youth were marked by a lack of supervision, and excessive household and family responsibilities.

The pendulum swings wide on the consequences of the latchkey childhood. Unsupervised Gen X children and youth ran the gamut of those who watched too much TV and didn’t do their homework to those who fell into escalating levels of crime. According to Coupland, inwardly-focused Baby Boomers sometimes regarded their children as “obstacles to their self-exploration,” and thus resulted permissive parenting of grand proportion. In addition, on top of spending many hours bored and lonely, Coupland also concludes that Generation X was “rushed through childhood.”

Today, the number of latchkey kids has declined. In 2000, Generation X parents along with school administrators helped to get federal legislation passed, which provided seed money for after school tutoring programs in lower income schools. Generation Xers understand firsthand how dangerous the hours between 3 to 6 p.m. can be for children Bonus: For an interesting perspective on growing up without a dad, read My Uncles Can Beat Up Your Uncles.

Generation X, The Cold War and Terrorism

Pretty much everything I have to say about Generation X and the Cold War is summarized in a commentary I wrote for KOSU Radio in September 2011.

Cold War Archives

5 world views shaped by sesame street and the Berlin Wall

Berlin Wall film premiers on PBS [The Wall – A World Divided]

Thawing of Cold War Precipitated Hundreds of Base Closures

4 examples of cold war culture that shaped our fear of Russia

My Perestroika and the Rise of Soviet Nostalgia

I created a war infographic that features all the wars and conflicts since the birth of Generation X in 1961 leading up to 2012.

Generation X Parents

I will be walking one day Down a street far away And see a face in the crowd and smile. –Amy Grant, 1991 During childhood, Generation X became the most unprotected generation in modern history. There were no after school programs when we were growing up. Our families were broken by divorce and addiction. Sexual abuse was rampant and largely unchecked. These terrible experiences birthed a generation of helicopter parents. Over-parenting is the norm among Gen-Xers. (We wrote the book on extreme kid birthday parties.) The downside of all this is obvious, but the upside is found in something Tami Erickson said about Generation X. She called us the most devoted parents in American history. I loved that.

Mmm, hello, I can relate to what you’re saying, and I truly think you have nailed the earlier timeline, that is 1961 for the beginning of this generation X. This generation is slightly after mine, I was born in 1955, and as I get older I can sense that timeline up to 1960, being my generation, and those after that year a vastly different breed, not trusting in God or government, largely, predominately, a hedonistic introverted, self-serving bunch that interestingly enough, seem to know exactly who they are, and prefer to couple with their own generation, and definitely prefer to stay clear of anything baby boomer. Thanks, we dont need your trash!

Jen, that “trash” comment raised my eyebrows as well. In fact, the entire post made me chuckle a bit. My husband, born in 1947, is an older Boomer than the writer, and yet given his distrust of both religion and government (who on earth actually “trusts” politicians?) and marriage to an early Gen Xer would, I suppose, make him “trash” in her eyes as well.

Sometimes you just have to shake you head at some people’s myopic “silliness” (I would use a stronger term, but thought I would keep this “g” rated).

Last year I was introduced to Strauss and Howe’s seminal work Generations and read it voraciously as well as their Fourth turning and 13th gen. It was like a homecoming for me, in that I finally could connect. I am a 1962 Gen Xer that NEVER fit into the boomer group. I never did LSD, or went to a rock concert, or protested the war. I grew up latch key, with a Silent generation mom, greatest generation DAD (WW2 decorated alcoholic). Left home at 17, went to college, wouldn’t have called working 2-3 jobs at a time a slacker, as well as teaching myself music. But have seen how even as we work very hard, as a cohort we have struggled the most financially. With that said, I feel blessed to live in a country of such opulence and opportunity, so even if I didn’t make a million in the stock market, I can take care of myself whatever happens, including the possible loss of Social Security, which once again means we are supporting the retiring Boomers. Being a Gen Xer means being a survivalist, and I believe I am due to our collective upbringing. I foster a 13 yof and see how the needs of the next generation take precedent, since they do need a better skill set than what was left to us. It’s as S&H predicted, we would sacrifice our gain for the youth. Thanks for your blog.

Thank you, Ardy. First of all – how wonderful that you foster a 13-year-old. The world needs more people willing to do that.

I’ve been reading a lot about a current push in Congress to kill off more and more of Social Security. I think the first-wave Xers like you (and me) are OK, but the late wave Xers are in trouble.

Over the years, I have heard so many first-wave Xers express relief over being categorized as Generation X – or even as a previous commenter said – Generation Jones. Like you’ve pointed out – your personal life experiences are far more reflective of the collective Gen X persona. I really cherish that last line in your comment about sacrifice our gain for the youth. This is what it’s all about for me anymore…especially as I stare down the nose of 50 and my friends start to get diagnosed with a myriad of illnesses. Time stops for no one. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a note. –jen

I think much of this depends entirely on when you were born during the wide span people term “Generation X” and also where you grew up. I was born at the beginning to parents who were not “Boomers” but members of the “Silent Generation” (both born in the 1930s). I did not know a single person whose parents were divorced until I was well into High School, and yes, upperclassmen in my (Catholic, no less) High School were allowed to smoke on campus.

I find myself generally having very little in common with those who are defined as “my generation” and far more in common with “Boomers” (in general).

That is wild about being able to smoke at your Catholic high school. I agree with everything you said. It is all very relative to an individual’s life experience, geography and definitely when parents are born. Thanks, Lisa, for stopping by and leaving a note.

I stumbled across this webpage kind of by accident. I saw an article on “hipsters” and started looking up my own generation.

I was born in 1971 and when I started reading this whole thing about latch key kids, neglect and rampant sexual abuse. It struck a real cord in me and made me understand something about myself as a parent. I read a bunch of the articles about Gen X parents and when I got to the one written to educators and administrators, I laughed because I am very much of a “stealth parent” in regards to my son’s education.

I’m a funny mix though because my “attack mode” has never been specifically about “consumer outcome” as much as it has embodied morals and ethics of my predeceasing generation. My parents weren’t baby boomers though; they were “furlough” kids. (Born during WWII) Most of what “rattles my cage” has specifically to do with how my son is treated, not necessarily if he’s getting “the best opportunities”. So here is where I’m half X and half boomer. My son is in a special education program. He’s autistic and has epilepsy.

And here is the one factor I think you miss though in regards to X-ers and the public education system. Yes, we are very much “the sandwich generation”. We are sandwiched between ageing parents and raising children; but in much higher percentiles than any other generation, we are sandwiched between disabled parents and disabled children. The presence of Autism exploded in the late 80’s and early 90’s. There were a lot of factors to this; which makes us the generation per-capita that has more disabled children than any one before us. It’s estimated that 1 in 150 kids fall on the Autism spectrum today. That’s a huge strain on the educational system and it’s a huge strain on us as parents.

So here is the other side of the same coin. The parents that are pushing to make their kids “turn out successful” and those of us who are simply fighting to keep our kids from having to live in group homes when they grow up. When that reality hits you, you have to learn to dream a different dream.

Renee,
Thanks for sharing your insights. I’ve never heard that term furlough kids before today. I like it and think it’s so accurate. What you’ve written here about Generation X sandwiched between disabled parents AND disabled children is also unique. In all my years of keeping up with Gen X in the news, I’ve never heard anyone draw that conclusion. It’s something I’d like to put some more time into learning and writing about. I’d like to understand it within the context of Generation X. You have such great writing skills. I’d love to hear or read more…

Jennifer,
I found your page while researching for a script I’m working on. Thanks for the great info. I was wondering if maybe we went to the same high school…it has to do with your comment on the smokers. My high school had a place for them near a “pit” for water retention. It rains 9 months out of the year and the smokers were called “pond rats”.

Just found this blog post. I’m late Gen X, born 1980. My sister is your age, born 1967. One thing I have noticed, there seems to be a personality split between early and late Xers. It’s probably this way for all generations. To me, late Xers are much more cynical and walled off. Early Xers are more prone to connecting with peers and family, along with other things, like doing volunteer work. The late Xers were “Beavis and Butthead” kids and we were looked at in this manner; as unintelligent brutes who wouldn’t amount to anything.

According to Strauss/Howe, the last cycle of “Xers”, the Lost Generation (1883-1900) fought in WWI and included Mr. Priestly, whose quote is brilliant. This cohort included: Stalin, Hitler, Mao, De Gaulle, Truman.

Yikes.

I do believe Strauss/Howe nailed the birth years on Gen X. It definitely goes through the early ’80s. Besides, a biological generation is around 20 years and to make it shorter is silly. When I mention things like being able to smoke at high school to Millennials, even those born in the mid-80s, they look at me, bug-eyed. Junior High only existed for Xers… Now it’s called Middle School. Internet meant BBS on a 2400 baud modem.

Love your comment. OMG — I never have once thought about how they once let kids smoke at school! There was like a pit behind one of the schools I attended where the kids who smoked gathered. Everyone called them creek rats. Ugh. I’ve always thought the first-wave Xers was more cynical and the mid-to-late wave Xers much more hopeful, but given world events and the economy the reverse seems true. I’m off to find that Priestly quote. If you have it could you post it here? *Middle School* What is that?!?! LOL!

This is so true. US and world Economists have tried to stretch out the Baby Boomer years into the early X years and it is so frustrating. From being treated as the younger peskier siblings to now being included in the older Boomers generation, even though some of us share older parents. Our experiences of the world in the 60’s were not the same as the older Boomers, us being babies, many of them old enough to be our parents. Woo hoo for mini skirts, the pill, hairy hippies and their big sell outs. What’s worse are their bratty kids. Not the same!

While I can understand your animus towards the boomers on some level, I really don’t understand what you have against their ” bratty kids” as you refer to them. Did you ( generation x) enjoy being labeled slackers?

As a genXer it was easy to become cynical by just watching the news. I’d come home to an empty house and turn on the tube. Both my parents had career jobs. I’ve seen more than my share of terrible events all caused by greed and stupidity, thanks to the Boomer generation. Even in my mid to late 40s I still hold on to the belief that things will get better. One just has to make it happen what ever it takes. Still I do think of the early 90s when I finally went to college and Nirvana and other grunge bands music which reflected the same ideas and issues faced with my generation. Those sweet old days when living outside the material aspect of life was so grand.

Early 90’s music (Pearl Jam, AIC, Nirvana) was everything. They perfectly captured all the angsty, introspective feelings of my college years, also. Such an upgrade from the 80’s hair bands, whom I could not relate to on any level.

I loved your comment about “living a life outside the material aspects of life.” Ahhh, yes. Youth.

It’s hard to believe a decade – give or take – separates those hair bands from the likes of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. We live through those differences when we are young, but as I grow older I recognize them less and less. It’s like I’m settling into that comfort zone in which I become increasingly irrelevant to younger generations. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

I was born in ’85 yet I somehow feel that I relate more to Gen X than I do with Gen Y. The circumstances regarding my upbringing would have it that Gen Y’s cultural beginnings had yet to start. I vividly remember a lot of the old technology and pop culture, but not quite historical events except for the Clinton Years. Perhaps I am a Gen Y that had lived in a Gen X world. Call it what you will, but I feel distant from the best-known characteristics of Gen Y. I honestly can’t relate. Your typical Millennial wouldn’t know half the stuff I know.

With a week here and there, we can be the greatest generation. We aren’t as blind to the entire world as some in the past, not as idealistic (and ready to throw it out the window for security and greed) as some.

Just found your website tonight as I was googling Generation X, Rv traveling long term. Good to see perspectives from another Gen Xer, great insights My wife, Teresa, is the talent behind our travel blog. Cheers, Derek.

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Are you there, God…

I'm Jennifer, an American wife, mother, daughter and friend. I write about faith, family, culture and community. I share spiritual insights from a Christian perspective and lessons I've learned along … Continue Reading...

What Generation Am I?

What Generation Am I?
People are sensitive about being categorized into one generation over another. This is often because of prevailing negative stereotypes. But, your generation - whichever one it is - simply stems from shared experiences with people born around the same time as you.
What … Continue Reading

Hello. How are you?

I'm Jennifer, an American wife and mother. Thank you for reading my blog today. I write about faith, family, culture and community.

If you were here with me right now we could take a walk together underneath the century-old trees that form canopies over the streets I call home. I would offer you a cup of coffee and we'd talk about our kids and dogs or cats and dreams and how everyone's growing older. We'd share our hopes and fears and the places we're going and the places we've been. ♥